Lead poisoning kills 163 Nigerians

2010-06-04 18:09

Abuja – Lead poisoning caused by illegal gold mining has killed 163 Nigerians, including 111 children, since March in several remote villages in northern Zamfara state, a senior government official said on Friday.

"We have a total of 355 cases and 163 deaths," Dr Henry Akpan, the health ministry's chief epidemiologist, told Reuters.

"They were digging for gold, but the areas also have large concentrations of lead."